Carefree Ayuso after dropping out of GC battle: "I knew from the start why I was here"

It was a remarkable sight: while there were still about 40 riders left in the peloton on the final climb, Ayuso had already been dropped. The Spaniard started as co-leader, but couldn't keep up with the best. An angry, disappointed rider was perhaps expected at the finish line, but a composed man arrived in Andorra. A hug from team boss Matxín Fernandez and a recovery drink: as if he had just completed a training ride. In a way, that was true.

“It's been like this the whole race, and I've said it from day one and even before the start,” Ayuso explained to Eurosport. “My plan was not to go for the GC, but the team asked me to give it my all out of respect, so I tried. But I don't feel good, so I went with the flow.” With a deficit of more than 10 minutes in the GC, this chapter is now definitely closed.

But the number three in the 2022 Vuelta had other goals at the start of this year's edition. He was called up at the last minute after Tadej Pogacar decided to skip the race. At that point, the Spaniard was in the midst of his preparations for the World Championships in Rwanda, and little has changed in that regard. “My goal is to support the team and prepare as well as possible for the World Championships.” And a stage victory? “First, I'll see how the team is doing. If João is feeling good, that's the priority. Then I can see if I can go for a stage win.”

It has not been a fortunate year for Ayuso, who had to abandon the Giro d'Italia. But that was a completely different situation. “I wasn't carrying that weight. That was more down to you guys. It's normal to build up expectations, but I knew from the start what my form was and why I was here. People always expect me to go for the GC, as I normally do, but it's not like the Giro this time. That was a bitter pill to swallow. Today I just let it go, now I'm looking ahead.”